Sumpless pump

ABSTRACT

A pump assembly adapted to be installed as a complete assembly in a conventional pipe riser with the pump assembly being so dimensioned that all its parts may be inserted in the upper end opening of a conventional riser of about 4 inch diameter.

United States Patent [191 DeLancey et al.

Jan. I 1974 SUMPLESS PUMP 2,311,963

[75] Inventors: Warren H. DeLancey, Elyria, Ohio; Donald Weisman, Southfield, Mich. 3:3l9:571 [73] Assignee: Flood Control Valve Company, 3369493 Detroit, Mich.

[22] Filed: Mar. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 233,476

[52] US. Cl 417/41, 417/424, 415/501 [57] [51] Int. Cl. F04b 49/02, F04b 17/00, F04b 35/04 [58] Field of Search 417/38, 40, 44, 41, 417/424, 564; 415/501 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,745,547 2/1930 Layne .1 417/424 X 34 a F I! a 2 1 i /-95 a M -T"'"" NEE Primary ExaminerWilliam L. Frleeh Assistant ExaminerRichard E. Gluck Att0rneyRobert A. Sloman ABSTRACT A pump assembly adapted to be installed as a complete assembly in a conventional pipe riser with the pump assembly being so dimensioned that all its parts may be inserted in the upper end opening of a conventional riser of about 4 inch diameter.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 1 74 SHEET 2 (If 2 Fuss SUMPLESS PUMP GENERAL DISCUSSION Weisman U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,467 shows a conventional 4 inch cleanout riser 14 or other 4 inch pipe below a floor level 11 and normally closed at the floor level by a threaded cap 21. Such system further includes a pump motor M controlled by a float switch 25 responding to a float 24 in such riser. That patent also shows the pump P as located well above the floor level to be operated by the pump motor in turn responding to the position of the float in the riser 14.

That patent shows pipe closure and mounting means 21 with a tube 19 passing through it and mounted in the closure 21 to form with it an assembly whose lower end is in the riser. Tube 19, on pump actuation, drains riser 14 into a remote higher level drain -16.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,467 shows an arrangement which uses a pump mounted above the floor level and connected through a pipe to the riser.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a different type of pump arrangement characterized by its being so dimensioned and so assembled that the pump can be lowered into the riser from above and occupy a portion of the riser below the closure for providing improved pump action, as well as a more convenient pump assembly.

Many other objects of the present invention will readily become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the appended drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation diagrammatic section view of a pump assembly, to small scale, including a pump motor at the upper end and a pump sub-assembly at the lower end of the pump assembly.

FIGS. 2-3 are larger scale views of parts of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the pump sub-assembly;

FIG. 5 shows a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows more or less diagramatically, a pump assembly for use with a conventional or about 4 inch cleanout riser R or other 4 inch pipe below the level of the floor F and normally closed at the floor level by a cap. Riser R is closed at its lower end and has a below floor seepage inlet line I.

The pump assembly will now be described in detail. It includes a pump motor 26 controlled by a switch 28 in turn controlled by a weight 30 and an air pressure diaphragm type of actuator 32; When air pressure builds up in an actuator inlet pipe 34, diaphragm 32 causes weight 30 to lift and close switch 28 for actuating pump motor 26. Conversely on release of air pressure in actu ator 32, weight 30 causes switch 28 to open and deactivate pump motor 26.

Motor 26 is to be of the noiseless type, to avoid objections sometimes voiced, because of the frequency of motor starting and stopping, greater whena four inch riser is used instead of a large diameter sump.

The housing of pump motor 26 has a collar 27 for supporting the housing on the upper end of a tube 52 later to be described; and the motor shaft is coupled at 29 to the upper end of a driver tube 60, also later de scribed.

The improved pump assembly is characterized by two major features. First, it is of such a form that it can be mounted on a closure means for closing the riser and dimensioned to be dropped downwardly into the riser and be actuated from above the riser. Secondly, it includes a variety of tubes, a pump sub'assembly, and other parts, all mounted on the closure means, all fitting within the riser, and all performing the necessary and desired functions.

These parts will now be described. A threaded pipe closure 50 provides a mounting means for the pump assembly which includes a plurality of tubes passing through and all mounted in the closure 50, as shown, to form with such closure a complete assembly.

One of the tubes 58 provides a sealed air communication between the interior ,of the riser and the inlet tube 34 for the switch actuator 32.

Another of the tubes 60 is coupled at its upper end to shaft 25 of the pump motor 26 andmounts on its lower end a pump and valve sub-assembly 63 and functions as a driver tube for the pump of the sub-assembly 63. A typical separable drive connection at 64 is provided for establishing a drive coupling between the lower end of the driver tube 60 and the pump of subassembly 63.

THE PUMP SUB-ASSEMBLY The pump sub-assembly is formed as a unit (FIG. 4) 63 and has a driven shaft coupled to the lower end of the driver tube 70 by a separable coupling 64. The pump sub-assembly includes a rotary impeller 74, a dif fuser 76, and a one-way plate type valve 78, having openings 79 and flaps 80. A housing 82, having an open lower end 81, and a cover plate 83, enclose parts 70, 74, 76, 78, etc.

In the form illustrated in this application, driven shaft 70 is so formed that it projects at both ends well beyond parts 74, 76, 78 so that the pump sub-assembly 63 may be mounted on the lower end of the driven tube 60 in either of two positions. In the position shown, plate valve 78 is above impeller 74, and the pumping action will cause flaps 80 to open valve 78 and to cause water in the riser to be pumped upwardly from the housing 82, removably carried by the tube 52.

Surrounding tube 52, which surrounds tube 60, is a tube whose lower end is sealed at 97 to housing 82, and whose upper end is sealed at 98 to tube 52; and which has a side branch outlet 99; opening or connected to a drain area, for draining water collected in the riser and pumped upwardly by the pump, for discharge to any discharge area permitted.

Air type control means 58-34-32. may be replaced by a float type control means, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,892,467, if desired.

Removably fastened to tube 52 by a spider is a plastic debris cup 112 snugly fitted in the riser as shown. Cup 112 will collect debris from inlet I and is removable from the riser along with the pump assembly.

Sealing gasket prevents water from rising inside tube 52 and diverts water flow to outside of such tube, to rise in tube 95, passing through openings 122 of plate 83.

OPERATION With pump sub-assembly 63 installed as shown, with its one-way plate valve 78 above impeller 74, a build-up of water level in the riser will cause air pressure to build-up in tubes 58 and 34 and the pump motor 26 to become actuated to cause pumping upward through the various tubes and openings and plate valve 78 and out through outlet 99, the pumping pressure causing flaps 80 of valve 78 to be opened forcibly.

The pump assembly, including closure 50, motor 26 at its upper end, and the pump sub-assembly 63 at its lower end, can be lowered into or removed from a 4 inch riser, when and as desired, and mounted on closure 50.

FIG. 5 shows a modification. Capillary air tube 158 has an air bag 210 on its lower end and passes through a stationary sleeve 212 which journals a rotatable coupler 214 threaded into nut 50. Tube 158 connects at its upper end to tube 34 of motor actuator 32.

Rising water in riser R pressures air bag 210 to actuate the actuator 32 and the pump motor, assuring operation even in the absence of a build up of air pressure in riser R, responsive to a rise in water level in such riser.

The coupling provided by parts 212-214 enables vertical adjustment of parts 158-210 without requiring rotation of such parts. Part 212 need not be rotated to be shifted vertically.

It will be observed that pump 82 is of the submersible type, and hence needs no priming, is ever ready for operation, and will operate noiselessly.

It will also be observed that bag 210, of FIG. 5, seals the capillary air tube 58, to seal the air therein, and bag 210 responds to water rising in riser R. This prevents water from entering said tube.

It is known that if the switch is not activated often enough, there may be an absorbtion of air in water. If this happens, water could possibly fill the entire capillary tube, and when water rises in the riser, there would be no air pressure build up in the capillary tube to activate the diaphragm. Therefore, by using a completely sealed system, we have eliminated this problem, since there can be no absorbtion because water and air cannot mix together.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the tubes 95, 52, and 58 have an air-tight seal relation to cap 50. The seal be- ,tween said cap and riser R is also air-tight whether the cap fits onto or is threaded into said riser. Thus, the entire assembly is air-tight.

Now having described the pump assembly herein disclosed, reference should be had to the claims which follow for a determination of the scope of the present invention, it being understood that what has heretofore been described is merely illustrative and explanatory in abbreviated form of a pump assembly forming part of a system. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. A pump assembly for use with a below-floor drainage line, a conventional cleanout riser or other vertical pipe about 4 inches in nominal diameter, positioned below a floor level and adapted to be normally closed at its upper end by a removable closure, and a pump motor above the floor level;

said pump assembly being a complete assembly whose external diameter is less than the internal diameter of the pipe so that the assembly can be installed in said pipe through its open upper end, with a pump at its lower end to be located in said pipe, and with a motor above said pipe;

said assembly including three separate and complete unitary sub-assemblies;

the first sub-assembly including a first sub-assembly mounting and pipe closure means;

three relatively telescoped tubes passing vertically through a plain vertical hole of said closure means and mounted within it to form within it said first sub-assembly;

the three tubes each having ends above and ends below said closure with the two outer ones of the three tubes being sealed and joined to each other above said closure;

the second sub-assembly including a motor housing and a motor shaft, with the housing supported by the intermediate tube and with the motor shaft being coupled to the innermost tube;

the third unitary sub-assembly including a pump housing of cup-shape having an open upper end;

means to couple the lower end of the outermost tube to the upper end of the pump housing;

a rotary impeller mounted in said pump housing;

a diffuser mounted in said pump housing above said impeller;

a one-way plate valve secured to said pump housing;

said plate valve having apertures therein and upwardly opening pressure responsive flaps for opening and closing said plate valve;

a driven shaft having its upper end coupled to said innermost tube, having the impeller mounted on its lower end, and being joumalled in the diffuser intermediate its ends;

the lower end of the intermediate tube being coupled to the upper end of the diffuser and valve; and

means mounted in said pipe closure and responsive to the water level in said pump assembly for controlling said pump motor. 

1. A pump assembly for use with a below-floor drainage line, a conventional cleanout riser or other vertical pipe about 4 inches in nominal diameter, positioned below a floor level and adapted to be normally closed at its upper end by a removable closure, and a pump motor above the floor level; said pump assembly being a complete assembly whose external diameter is less than the internal diameter of the pipe so that the assembly can be installed in said pipe through its open upper end, with a pump at its lower end to be located in said pipe, and with a motor above said pipe; said assembly including three separate and complete unitary subassemblies; the first sub-assembly including a first sub-assembly mounting and pipe closure means; three relatively telescoped tubes passing vertically through a plain vertical hole of said closure means and mounted within it to form within it said first sub-assembly; the three tubes each having ends above and ends below said closure with the two outer ones of the three tubes being sealed and joined to each other above said closure; the second sub-assembly including a motor housing and a motor shaft, with the housing supported by the intermediate tube and with the motor shaft being coupled to the innermost tube; the third unitary sub-assembly including a pump housing of cupshape having an open upper end; means to couple the lower end of the outermost tube to the upper end of the pump housing; a rotary impeller mounted in said pump housing; a diffuser mounted in said pump housing above said impeller; a one-way plate valve secured to said pump housing; said plate valve having apertures therein and upwardly opening pressure responsive flaps for opening and closing said plate valve; a driven shaft having its upper end coupled to said innermost tube, having the impeller mounted on its lower end, and being journalled in the diffuser intermediate its ends; the lower end of the intermediate tube being coupled to the upper end of the diffuser and valve; and means mounted in said pipe closure and responsive to the water level in said pump assembly for controlling said pump motor. 